Possumblog

Terry, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were making fun of- yes, even *mocking*- the fine people who know what's good for all of us better than we do. Good thing I know better, since *if* that were the case, odds are, you'd also be involved in a violent plot like all the rest of them. *Shaking head* Barbarians!

I!? A mocker!? O, heaven (of the most inclusive, non-Bible-thumping sort) forbid!

I would never suggest that we are in anything but the very BEST of hands. With the clean and articulate leadership we now have in place, we can all look forward to the day when every American will be able to call him and/or herself a millionaire.

Yep, we'll probably even have to go buy new wheelbarrows, just so we can fill them full of cash and push them to to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread!

Pretty fierce talk for a guy with a gubmint job.

Yeah, you and the gubmint job have been in my prayers. I don't know where it will end, but the gravy train is running out of lumps. Every level [local-state-federal] will have no choice but to cut services. There's a lot of folks scrambling now, and I just don't see it getting better this year.

Well, back to the post point ... I'll repeat something I posted back at Spudlets from Paul Ryan (R-Wis) about a week ago:
"The philosophy advanced on this floor by this majority today is so paternalistic and so arrogant, it’s condescending, and it tramples upon the principles that have made America so exceptional. My friends, we are fast approaching a tipping point where more Americans depend upon the federal government than upon themselves for their livelihoods — a point where we, the American people, trade in our commitment and our concern for our individual liberties in exchange for government benefits and dependencies."

Even after a week it still feels like a bad dream. I can't believe it actually happened. What have we given our children? I hope they can forgive us, as we'll need them to help us change our Depends some day.

And now for something completely different ...
Man tries to revive dead possum
Is that like trying to beat a dead horse?

Umm, here's the link, as it seems like my HTML code did not take: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jwZxuvF0T3ok0niG8TRRkdaZT6qQD9EMOL7O0

Or you can try here: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/drunk_pa_man_tried_to_revive_dead_fYRQF5TfpUHx5JbseDlmEL

Well the only thing is, the government I work for doesn't have the ability to print money, and by law must have a balanced budget. Unlike people, governments are not created equal.

At least I still live in a country where a drunk guy will try to revive a dead possum.

Don't get me wrong. I think the timing of this bill is miserable, and I can't see anything good about it, for me or anyone I know.

Not a reform, but a recommendation that I would give based on my recent experiences with a veteran and health care, is for veterans with the least quirk to enroll and visit the local veterans clinic or hospital.

Quirk, I'm saying. Not necessarily a snotty nose.

Their doctors, the big ones, will know better what the implications were of being in the field.

That persistent low temperature and the nosebleeds that Charles experienced early in his illness might have clued VA doctors in sooner, and kept him off his deathbed.

Did I tell you that I called my brothers and sister in to Jackson because the hospitalist thought hospice was the way to go?

Would have saved United Health a ton of money.

I guess that's my biggest beef--"health care reform" does vanishingly little in the way of health, care, or reform. It's almost as if that didn't have anything to do with it...

Low high temperature, I mean, 100.6, say.

That's what I see. No one at Dave Schuler's site is telling me where the fines go. Steve Verdon, I'm pretty confident, would tell me.

What about putting up a big catastrophic fund where we all put in a reasonable amount of dollars based on age?

I know I took my first insurance policy when I was about 20 and working as a waitress. Promptly, someone flew threw an intersection and hit the car I was riding in. We were right, but not less injured.

Hmph. What did either Churchill or De Tocqueville know abut Democracy? Or defending same?

I predict you'll all be fine with government healthcare, as long as you don't get sick and you don't need your own money.

A big pool of money is a good idea--that's what insurance is. However, a big pool of money controlled by someone who has the ability to mess with it without fear of being sued or jailed for theft is a recipe for what's already happened with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and just about anything else you can think of. That big pool is too tempting to swim in. And pee in.

As for predictions, I predict that one day we'll all look back on this and have a wonderful chuckle.

What does your sister say?

See item #3 of this post from three years ago regarding another sort of government-run health care. (And my sister's opinion thereof.)

As far as I can tell, I get hit as an individual and as a small business owner. Also, my employees get nailed. What could be better?

Well, Larry, given the incentives, it seems that you're being encouraged to not be a small business owner. Or an employee. Or an individual.

I see that the Obama adminstration is considering value added tax. An extra 14-15% added to every price should do wonders for sales.

I wonder if the VAT will apply to medical insurance.

I'm just happy that there won't be a tax increase of any sort for any family earning under $250,000 a year!

(Of course, once inflation sets in good and hard, there won't be anyone earning under $250,000 a year.)

Silly. Everyone will be making $250 MILLION a year. Even BILLION if you want! And The One will actually deliver on the promised Ponies and Ice Cream!

Don't worry. The Rich will pay for it all. Oh, sure, you'll need a few extra million to pay for a loaf of bread, but it's a small price to pay.

I like ponies and ice cream! They're delicious!

I'd say all you folks were pessimists if your outlooks were not more positive than mine.

What's not to be optimistic about!? We've been given Hope! And Change! And it's all free!

So, you know, yeah.